NFL Week 7 Scouting Report: Rams host Steelers
Steel City Underground will provide fans in Steelers Nation a pre-game scouting report of each of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ opponents during each week of the 2023 NFL regular season, comprised of items from top storylines and insights.
The Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) exit their bye by going on the road to visit the Los Angeles Rams (3-3) in Week 7 of the 2023 NFL regular season. Here we’ll look at the news and storylines coming out of L.A. ahead of the game on Sunday, October 22.
Rams hobbled in run game?
Los Angeles knew they had an issue with health at the running back position, and on Wednesday they placed Ronnie Rivers on injured/reserved due to a PCL sprain that is expected to keep him out for up to five weeks. Fellow rusher Kyren Williams, who suffered a significant ankle sprain, has been ruled out against the Steelers as Sean McVay and the Rams staff decide how to handle the possibility he too may be put on IR.
Zach Evans is the presumptive guy to get the nod as the primary ball carrier but the Rams made a couple other moves this week as well. As a rookie, Evans has yet to be asked to carry a game-long load, so it’ll be an area to keep an eye on against an improving Steelers run defense.
Reunion: The #Rams signed RB Darrell Henderson to the practice squad. They also signed Royce Freeman to the active roster.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 17, 2023
#Rams coach Sean McVay on whether rookie RB Zach Evans is on track to start this week:
“I wouldn’t say that”
“All four of those guys are possibilities and we’re truly navigating through that”
McVay also said “he’s gotten better” and “I’m looking forward to seeing how he… pic.twitter.com/SW7rNTgeWp
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) October 18, 2023
Rams offense notes
Rams receiver Cooper Kupp was able to return from injury in Week 6 and put on a show as WR1 while Puca Nacua received a 34% target share and should remain WR2. Quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Rams have struggled in the second half of games, so how the targets are distributed while trying to keep the run game involved will be a test.
Add another to the Stafford-to-Kupp highlight reel.
📺: #AZvsLAR on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/B4mQvLOt8O pic.twitter.com/mHTp2EjvR6— NFL (@NFL) October 15, 2023
LIVE: #RamsHouse Press Conference with QB Matthew Stafford ahead of our Week 7 matchup against the Steelers. https://t.co/vT9phxuxaC
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 18, 2023
Weekly update on @RamsNFL Matthew Stafford's QB rankings, which continue to remind us to dig deeper than yards, TDs, and INTs:
QBR: 9
EPA: 8
EPA/play: 7
PFF: 6
Big time throws: 1
BTT%: 1
Turnover worthy play%: 3 (lowest)
Avg Depth of Target: 4
Drops: 2 (most) pic.twitter.com/6YbNmTEA0f— J.B. Long (@JB_Long) October 18, 2023
Wednesday injury report
Pittsburgh will get Pat Freiermuth back into the mix of targets for Kenny Pickett, but as of Wednesday receiver Diontae Johnson was able to practice – as was Anthony McFarland – but remains on the injured/reserved list. Johnson is determined to be available for Sunday per statements he made to the media, however.
Los Angeles listed the following players on their injury/participation report on Wednesday:
- LB Ernest Jones – knee (DNP)
- DT Larrell Murchison – knee (DNP)
- RB Kyren Williams – ankle (DNP)
- WR Ben Skowronek – Achilles (limited)
- NT Kobie Turner – shoulder (limited)
- OL Joe Noteboom – groin (limited)
- OL Kevin Dotson – ankle (full)
- DB Derion Kendrick – not injury related (DNP)
Kevin Dotson: highest-graded guard in the NFL this season – 85.3 🐏 pic.twitter.com/mEfYJzgUjJ
— PFF LA Rams (@PFF_Rams) October 18, 2023
Kendrick, 23, was arrested just hours after the Rams played the Arizona Cardinals in Hollywood (CA) on suspicion of illegal gun possession and was charged with two misdemeanors: carrying a concealed weapon and carrying a loaded weapon. His arraignment was on Wednesday
but it was continued until Dec. 5, a court clerk said. Kendrick was released on his own recognizance.
Before practice on Wednesday, McVay said, “Once I have the totality of the information and all the legal matters are cleared up, I think it will be appropriate for us to be able to move forward [with Kendrick].”
For the bulletin board
Ahkello Witherspoon and Kevin Dotson are facing their former team this Sunday vs the Steelers, these two have been phenomenal underrated pickups from the front office. Ahkello has had a top 5 coverage grade and Dotson is the 2nd highest graded guard in the NFL.
— HoldenCantor (@HoldenCantor) October 18, 2023
Looking more into motion at the snap today. Through six weeks, here are the offenses with the most dropbacks with motion at the snap.
Rams – 93
Dolphins – 92
Chiefs – 71
Falcons – 57
Texans – 53
Chargers – 52
49ers – 48
Bills – 40
Lions – 35(Steelers have 13, Broncos have 15)
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) October 18, 2023
This angle of CMC putting Ahkello Witherspoon into the ground is🔥 pic.twitter.com/Mbk8bx4Zyn
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) September 17, 2023
